First Harvest, Then Applications, Then Tillage
Oct 22, 2025
When it’s time to harvest, everything is a go, but when it comes to tillage, your Federated Agronomists urge you to wait until ag lime and/or fall fertilizer has been applied. “Save the tillage ‘til the fall activities are done,” said Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager.
The reasons for the wait to till are pretty straightforward: ag lime and fall fertilizer needs to be incorporated into the soil for the best results on next year’s crops. And, a tilled field is very hard to maneuver application machines across, making lime or fertilizer application very challenging (and, at times, not possible). “Tillage creates issues that can be avoided by applying fall ag lime and/or fertilizer first,” said Carlson.
Fall tillage after lime application is especially valuable because it gives the quarry ag lime a chance to react with the soils to affect the pH levels. The nutritional value of ag lime is also maximized as the calcium carbonates interact with the free hydrogen in the soil.
Are you in doubt about fall fertilizer or ag lime applications? Contact your Federated Agronomist to discuss the implications of bypassing these important fall options. There are economic benefits – and always, agronomic benefits – that you won’t want to overlook in this tight economy.
Give your Federated Agronomist a call today. Fall applications are being scheduled (and are underway in areas where the beans have already come off).
The reasons for the wait to till are pretty straightforward: ag lime and fall fertilizer needs to be incorporated into the soil for the best results on next year’s crops. And, a tilled field is very hard to maneuver application machines across, making lime or fertilizer application very challenging (and, at times, not possible). “Tillage creates issues that can be avoided by applying fall ag lime and/or fertilizer first,” said Carlson.
Fall tillage after lime application is especially valuable because it gives the quarry ag lime a chance to react with the soils to affect the pH levels. The nutritional value of ag lime is also maximized as the calcium carbonates interact with the free hydrogen in the soil.
Are you in doubt about fall fertilizer or ag lime applications? Contact your Federated Agronomist to discuss the implications of bypassing these important fall options. There are economic benefits – and always, agronomic benefits – that you won’t want to overlook in this tight economy.
Give your Federated Agronomist a call today. Fall applications are being scheduled (and are underway in areas where the beans have already come off).